Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr.

ROBERTS: CAMDEN SCHOOLS AUDIT UNDERSCORES NEED FOR STRONGER COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS
Lawmaker Outlines Action Plan to Rein in City School District's Lax Spending Practices;
Calls for AG to Recoup Costs & New Schools Superintendent with Accounting Credentials

(CAMDEN) - Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr. said this week's disturbing revelations of financial irregularities in the Camden public schools system underscores the necessity of the Senate approving legislation that would create a new system of county school superintendents with broadened oversight powers to fight dubious expenditures.
Reacting to an audit that uncovered $13 million worth of questionable spending in the school district over a two-year period, Roberts also said the state Attorney General should give serious consideration to recouping some of the dubious expenditures cited in the audit.

Roberts said the search for a new superintendent for the city's school system also should make it a priority consideration to hire an individual with a demonstrated ability to turn around troubled districts complimented by a background in sound accounting practices. If an individual with such a resume can't found, then Roberts said the next executive in command of the school district should have extensive accounting expertise.

"It's clear that the Camden school district needs to get better at the practice of preventing financial problems before they occur," said Roberts (D-Camden). "There needs to be an across-the-board emphasis on making sure that taxpayer dollars get used to help children in classrooms and are not wasted on expensive cars or meals for administrators."

The audit of Camden schools spending was released Tuesday and it cited numerous deficiencies and millions of dollars in questionable expenditures, including payouts of $380,830 to deceased employees; a $5,000 auto lease for a former superintendent, and a $5,800 luncheon bill.

The Camden schools audit was one of four released by the state Department of Education. Auditors cited 63 internal control deficiencies in the Camden schools operation, the most problems found in any of the four audits.

Roberts branded the audit findings as "unacceptable" and an "embarrassment."

"It's clear a wholesale climate change is needed in the district's approach to money management," Roberts said.
Today, Roberts identified three ways to improve financial oversight in the district.

First, he said the state Legislature needs to complete work on legislation (A-4) he has championed to encourage more efficient municipal and school operations around the state. That bill, which was passed by the Assembly in December and is scheduled for further action in the Senate on Monday, contains a provision to create a new system of executive county school superintendents.

New Jersey already has county superintendents, but they are largely bureaucratic paper tigers. Roberts's measure would give them expanded oversight powers, with the ability to comb through local school budgets and operations and trim out excessive administrative spending.

"The new Camden school audit should be Exhibit A for why the needs stronger county school superintendents," said Roberts. "With expanded oversight powers, they will have a better chance to root out waste and make sure money goes to classrooms where it belongs."

The second corrective action Roberts wants to see is for the state Attorney General or some other agency to recoup some of the wasted funds identified in the recent audits - for example, payments made to deceased employees.

"In cases where money can be retrieved, we should pull out the stops to get it back," said Roberts.

The final corrective action Roberts is seeking to pursue is the appointment of a new city schools superintendent who has credentials in both education management and financial oversight.

"The process should be weighted toward individuals who have a substantial measure of accounting training or accounting experience," said Roberts. "If a prospective superintendent has some background in forensic accounting, all the better. If a candidate can't be found with an accounting background, then the second-in command should have such credentials."

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For Release:
February 1, 2007

Assemblyman Joseph J. Roberts, Jr.
Speaker of the General Assembly
P: (856) 742-7600